Note: this event will be held at UC Berkeley: 402 Classroom, Physics South Hall, UCB-Campus

Title: Gravitational Direct Detection of Dark Matter

Abstract: Dark matter makes up roughly a quarter of the energy content of the universe, yet decades of searches for non-gravitational interactions have come up empty. This motivates a complementary strategy: dark matter produces small but measurable perturbations to the spacetime metric, and precision astronomical observables can be used to detect them directly. I will introduce the framework of gravitational direct detection, which leverages pulsar timing arrays, astrometric deflections, gravitational lensing, and the cosmic microwave background as spacetime rulers sensitive to dark matter density fluctuations. These techniques span a wide range of dark matter candidates — from ultralight wave-like fields to massive compact objects — and I will present recent results. Together, they represent a new and rapidly growing front in the search for dark matter.

https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/94928022788?pwd=emVQWG1mTnhSbHVqekVuenk0VEVQZz09